• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.7-12
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• 2011

Free-living amoebae ingest several kinds of bacteria. In other words, the bacteria can survive within free-living amoeba. To determine how Escherichia coli K1 isolate causing neonatal encephalitis and non-pathogenic K12 interact with free-living amoebae, e.g., Acanthamoeba castellanii (T1), A. astronyxis (T7), Naegleria fowleri, association, invasion and survival assays were performed. To understand pathogenicity of free-living amoebae, in vitro cytotoxicity assay were performed using murine macrophages. T1 destroyed macrophages about 64% but T7 did very few target cells. On the other hand, N. fowleri which needed other growth conditions rather than Acanthamoeba destroyed more than T1 as shown by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. In association assays for E. coli binding to amoebae, the T7 exhibited significantly higher association with E. coli, compared with the T1 isolates (P<0.01). Interestingly, N. fowleri exhibited similar percentages of association as T1. Once E. coli bacteria attach or associate with free-living amoeba, they can penetrate into the amoebae. In invasion assays, the K1 (0.67%) within T1 was observed compared with K12 (0%). E. coli K1 and K12 exhibited high association with N. fowleri and bacterial CFU. To determine the fate of E. coli in long-term survival within free-living amoebae, intracellular survival assays were performed by incubating E. coli with free-living amoebae in PBS for 24 h. Intracellular E. coli K1 within T1 (2.5%) and T7 (1.8%) were recovered and grown, while K12 were not found. N. fowleri was not invaded and here it was not recovered.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제17권10호
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• pp.1121-1127
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• 2008

The free-living amoeba and Acanthamoeba sp. are widely distributed in fresh water, soil, air and dust in the world. We studied distribution of amoeba from low Nakdong River(Mulgum and Maeri) and removal efficiency in water treatment process of Busan metropolitan city. During this investigation, water quality showed pH $7.4{\sim}9.6({\pm}1.1)$, water temperature $2.0{\sim}29.0({\pm}17)^{\circ}C$, turbidity $4.8{\sim}27.4({\pm}11.0)$ NTU, chlorophyll-a $10.3{\sim}109.0({\pm}44.3)\;mg/m^{3}$, BOD $1.7\sim4.9({\pm}2.6)$ mg/L, COD $3.1\sim-6.9({\pm}5.0)$ mg/L and total coliform $17\sim920({\pm}200.5)$ MPN/100 mL. The free-living amoeba were detected highly than Acanthamoeba sp., 11 out of 22 in raw water samples were positive (50%) for Acanthamoeba sp. from February 2005 to December 2005. The seasonal characteristics of tree-living amoeba and Acanthamoeba sp. in raw water were mainly distributed through the spring to the early fall. When tree-living amoeba and Acanthamoeba sp. were passed through the water treatment of pilot-plant, approximately 80% was sure to be removed through pre-ozonation, sedimentation, send filtration. 100% was removed after post-ozonation process. All of the isolated amoebas from Nakdong River were Acanthamoeba sp. AC311 18S ribosomal RNA gene with 98% nucleotide sequence homology.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Vermamoeba vermiformis is a very important free-living amoeba for human health in association with Legionnaires' disease and keratitis. This interesting amoeba was firstly isolated from a freshwater of Dokdo (island), which was historically used for drinking water. Trophozoites and cyst forms of V. vermiformis strain MG1 are very similar to previous reported species. Trophozoites of V. vermiformis strain MG1 showed cylindrical shape with prominent anterior hyaline region. The average ratio of length and width was about 6.5. Typically, cysts of the strain MG1 showed a spherical or slightly ovoidal shape with smooth wall, and lacked cyst pores. Some cysts had crenulate-walled ectocyst, which was separated from endocyst wall. Further, 18S rRNA gene sequence of V. vermiformis strain MG1 showed very high similarity to other V. vermiformis species (99.4%-99.9% identity). Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA gene sequences clearly confirmed that the isolate was one strain of V. vermiformis with maximum bootstrap value (maximum likelihood: 100%) and Bayesian posterior probability of 1. Thus, the freshwater of Dokdo in Korea could harbor potentially pathogenic amoeba that may cause diseases in humans.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.259-266
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• 1994

CSH/HeJ 마우스에 Acanaamoeba culbertsoni영양형 $3{\;}{\times}{\;}10^5$개를 비강으로 접종하 여 실험적 아메바성 수막뇌염을 일으킬 때 숙주의 방어기작에 대식세포가 미치는 영향을 알아 보았다. 대식세포 억제제인 silica를 마우스 복강 내로 투여한 경우의 사망율이 60.6%로 아메바만을 접종한 마우스의 사망율이 10.0%와 비하여 큰 차이를 보였으며 열처리하여 죽인 Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites의 in vitro탐식능 관찰에서 기능을 억제시킨 대식세포의 탐식능이 3% 이하로써 아메바에 대한 복강대식세포의 기능의 저하로 인한 수막뇌염의 증가를 관찰하였다. A. culbertsoni에 대한 대식세포의 살해활동의 in vitro 실험에서 silica투여한 실험군의 복강대식세포의 뚜렷한 기능 저하를 관찰하였고, 효소표지 면역 검사법(ELISU)을 이용한 마우스 혈청 내의 $interleukin-1{\beta}(IL-1{\beta})$의 흡광도는 아메바 접종군과 생리식염수 투여군보다 silica투여를 수반한 실험군이 현저하게 낮게 나타나 대식세포가 억제되었을 때 실험적 수막뇌염이 증가함을 알 수 있었다. 결과적으로 대식세포가 A. culbertsoni 감염에 대한 숙주의 방어작용에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 생각된다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.47-50
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• 2005

A survey was carried out from August to December 2004 in Pusan, Korea to document the presence of free-living amoeba (FLA), including the genus Acanthamoeba, in both contact lens storage cases and domestic tap water. Acanthamoeba was isolated from $5(4.2\%)$ in 120 contact lens storage cases. Four house tap water samples from residents, whose contact lens storage cases had been contaminated by Acanthamoeba, were also found to be contaminated with Acanthamoeba. Therefore, the contamination rate of FLA and Acanthamoeba in domestic tap water was investigated in order to examine the role of domestic tap water in Acanthamoeba contamination of contact lens storage cases. FLA and Acanthamoeba were identified in $97(46.8\%)\;and\;16(7.7\%)$ of the 207 domestic tap water samples, respectively. There were no significant differences between the contamination rates of FLA in tap water according to the filtration plant of origin. No FLA was detected in the tap water directly supplied by the water purification plants. Water storage tanks appear to promote FLA colonization, including Acanthamoeba, in domestic tap water. This increases the risk of Acanthamoeba contamination in contact lens storage cases as well as increasing the risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.11-18
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• 2007

Recent in vitro studies have revealed that a certain Mycobacterium can survive and multiply within free-living amoebae. It is believed that protozoans function as host cells for the intracellular replication and evasion of Mycobacterium spp. under harmful conditions. In this study, we describe the isolation and characterization of a bacterium naturally observed within an amoeba isolate acquired from a contact lens storage case. The bacterium multi-plied within Acanthamoeba, but exerted no cytopathic effects on the amoeba during a 6-year amoebic culture. Trasnmission electron microscopy showed that the bacteria were randomly distributed within the cytoplasm of trophozoites and cysts of Acanthamoeba. On the basis of the results of 18S rRNA gene analysis, the amoeba was identified as A. lugdunensis. A 16S rRNA gene analysis placed this bacterium within the genus Mycobacterium. The bacterium evidenced positive reactivity for acid-fast and fluorescent acid-fast stains. The bacterium was capable of growth on the Middlebrook 7H11-Mycobacterium-specific agar. The identification and characterization of bacterial endosymbionts of free-living protozoa bears significant implications for our understanding of the ecology and the identification of other atypical mycobacterial pathogens.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제60권4호
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• pp.229-239
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• 2022

The high percentage of Vermamoeba was found in tap water in Korea. This study investigated whether Vermamoeba induced allergic airway inflammation in mice. We selected 2 free-living amoebas (FLAs) isolated from tap water, which included Korean FLA 5 (KFA5; Vermamoeba vermiformis) and 21 (an homolog of Acanthamoeba lugdunensis KA/E2). We axenically cultured KFA5 and KFA21. We applied approximately 1×10⁶ to mice's nasal passages 6 times and investigated their pathogenicity. The airway resistance value was significantly increased after KFA5 and KFA21 treatments. The eosinophil recruitment and goblet cell hyperplasia were concomitantly observed in bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissue in mice infected with KFA5 and KFA21. These infections also activated the Th2-related interleukin 25, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and thymus and activation-regulated chemokines gene expression in mouse lung epithelial cells. The CD4⁺ interleukin 4⁺ cell population was increased in the lung, and the secretion of Th2-, Th17-, and Th1-associated cytokines were upregulated during KFA5 and KFA21 infection in the spleen, lung-draining lymph nodes, and BAL fluid. The pathogenicity (allergenicity) of KFA5 and KFA21 might not have drastically changed during the long-term in vitro culture. Our results suggested that Vermamoeba could elicit allergic airway inflammation and may be an airway allergen.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.239-248
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• 1993

원발성 아메바성 수막뇌염을 일으키는 병원성 자유생활아메바인 Naegleria fowleri 및 Acanthamoeba culbertsoni를 CSH/HeJ 마우스에 감염시켜 자연살세포를 활성화시킬 수 있는 감염 최소량 및 활성도를 최대치가지 이르게 하는 감염 최대량을 결정하여 수막뇌염의 발생여부 및 사망율을 조사하고, 이와 함께 비병원성 자유생활아메바인 Naegleria fowleri를 감염시켜 자연살세포가 활성화되는지 조사하였다 자연살세포 활성도를 병원성 자유생활아메바 감염군과 비교하였으며, 병원성, 비병원성 자유생활아메바 감염군에서의 자연살세포의 세포독성의 변화를 단세포 독성검사법을 이용하여 표적세포 결합능, 활성 자연살세포, 더 나아가 최대 재순환능을 측정하여 조사하였다. Naegleria fowleri 감염 군에서 자연살세포를 활성화 시킬 수 있는 감염 최소량인 아메바 영양형 $1{\times}10^4$개 감염 군에서 사망률이 5.9%이었으며 최대량인 $1{\times}10^5$개 영양형 감염군에서는 72.2%이었다. Acnnthamoebn culbertsoni 감염 군에서의 감염 최소량인 아메바 영양형 $1{\times}10^3$개 감염군에서의 사망률은 6.9%이었으며 최대량인 $1{\times}10^5$개 감염군에서는 65.5%이었다. 자연살세포의 세포독성은 병원성 자유생활아메바 감염군 모두에서 감염후 1일째에 대조군과 비교하여 통계학적으로 유의하게 증가하였으며, 감염후 2일과 5일째에는 감소하였고, 아메바 감염량간에는 유의한 차이를 발견할 수 없었다. 아메바 감염 군에서의 자연살세포의 활성도의 증가는 표적세포 결합능 및 활성 자연살세포의 증가에 기인한 것이었으며 재순환능에는 차이가 없음을 알 수 있었다. 비병원성 자유생활아메바인 Naegleria fowleri 감염 군에서는 자연살세포의 활성도는 대조군과 비교하여 유의한 차이를 발견할 수 없었으며 병원성 자유생활아메바 감염 군과는 자연살세포의 세포독성 통계학적으로 유의한 차이가 있음을 알 수 있었다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.257-263
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• 1999

Identification of the genes responsible for the recovery of virulence in brain-passaged Acanthamoeba culbertsoni was attempted via mRNA differential display polymerase chain reaction (mRNA DD-PCR) analysis. In order to identify the regulatory changes in transcription of the virulence related genes by the brain passages, mRNA DD-PCR was performed which enabled the display of differentially transcribed mRNAs after the brain passages. Through mRNA DD-PCR analysis. 96 brain-passaged amoeba specific amplicons were observed and were screened to identify the amplicons that failed to amplify in the non-brain-passaged amoeba mRNAs. Out of the 96 brain-passaged amoeba specific amplicons, 12 turned out to be amplified only from the brain-passaged amoeba mRNAs by DNA slot blot hybridization. The clone, A289C, amplified with an arbitrary primer of UBC ＃289 and the oligo dT$_{11}$-C primer, revealed the highest homology (49.8％) to the amino acid sequences of UPD-galactose lipid transferase of Erwinia amylovora, which is known to act as an important virulence factor. The deduced amino acid sequences of an insert DNA in clone A289C were also revealed to be similar to cpsD, which is the essential gene for the expression of type III capsule in group B streptococcus. Upregulated expression of clone A289C was verified by RNA slot blot hybridization. Similar hydrophobicity values were also observed between A289C (at residues 47-66) and the AmsG gene of E. amylovora (at residues 286-305: transmembrane domains). This result suggested that the insert of clone A289C might play the same function as galactosyl transferase controlled by the AmsG gene in E. amylovora.a.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권2호
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• pp.191-194
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• 2020

Free-living amoebas (FLAs) can cause severe disease in humans and animals when they become infected. However, there are no accurate survey reports on the prevalence of FLAs in Korea. In this study, we collected 163 tap water samples from buildings, apartments, and restrooms of highway service areas in 7 Korean provinces with high population density. All these buildings and facilities have water storage tanks in common. The survey was separated into categories of buildings, apartments, and highway service areas. Five hundred milliliters of tap water from each building was collected and filtered with 0.2 ㎛ pore filter paper. The filters were incubated in agar plates with heated E. coli at 25℃. After axenization, genomic DNA was collected from each FLA, and species classification was performed using partial 18S-rDNA PCR-sequencing analysis. We found that 12.9% of tap water from buildings with storage tanks in Korea was contaminated with FLAs. The highway service areas had the highest contamination rate at 33.3%. All of the FLAs, except one, were genetically similar to Vermamoeba vermiformis (Hartmannella vermiformis). The remaining FLA (KFA21) was very similar to Acanthamoeba lugdunensis (KA/E26). Although cases of human infection by V. vermiformis are very rare, we must pay attention to the fact that one-third of tap water supplies in highway service areas have been contaminated.